Counting tube transfer circuit



June 14, 1949. 14,1". LYMAN, JR 2,473,159

COUNTING TUBE TRAESFER CIRCUIT.

Filed Jam 29, 1949 v THREE PHASE DRIVING CIRCUIT INVENTOR. HAROLD T. LYMAN JR.

Jaw.

ATTORN EY.

Patented June 14, 1949 COUNTING TUBE TRANSFER CIRCUIT ill'Olfl T. Lyman, in, Glen Arm, Md., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 29, 1949, Serial No. 73,568

This invention relates to transfer circuits between counting tubes, and has particular-reference to the method and means of transferring the 8 Claims. (Cl. 315.-323) radix-carry pulse from one gaseous multi-electrode counting tube to another.

The circuits to be described hereinafter apply particularly to a gaseous discharge tube having three discharge fingers for each digit position. Such a tube has been described in U. 8. Patent No. 2,443,407, issued June 15, 1948 to Nathaniel 3. Wales, Jr. While the figures and description apply to the decimal or denary system of counting with a radix of ten, it will be obvious that any system of countingmay be used, including the binary. system with radix two or clock systems having a radix of 12 and 60.

The structure of the herein described counting tube requires a three phase pulse-to register a count of one and the carry signal from one denominational order to the next higher order tube also requires a three phase pulse. Prior. circuits have been described wherein a single carry signal has been divided into three pulses and then ap-.

plied to the next order. Such a circuit is wasteful of energy and'usually requires several amplifier stages for efficient results.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved transfer circuit for counting tubes which avoids one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of prior art arrangements.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the r transfer amplifier stages.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and improve the zeroizing action.

Still another object is to provide the counting tube circuit with a stop switch or means of stopping the counting action in any stage or denominational order.

Other objects will be apparent when the specification and the claims are read in connection with the drawing. 7

One feature of the present invention includes a counting tube transfer circuit which transmits a carry counting pulse from one counting tube to another. Each counting tube includes three electrodes, each with a plurality of discharge fingers, and. three independent discharge fingers with separate lead-in conductors. Transfer circuits are connected between each of the three independent discharge fingers of the first counting tube and the three corresponding electrodes of the second counting tube. The transfer circuits may be transformers or any other type of elec- 22, called the master electrode.

- 2 trical coupling circuit adaptable to the tube requirements.

Another feature of the invention includes a zeroizing means by which the discharge is returned to the zero position by the applicationof a high voltage to that discharge finger. Another feature of the invention includes a switchin means for connecting a large capacitor between the master electrode and ground, thereby effectively short circuiting the counting pulses while retaining the arc discharge at its indicating position.

The figure shows a schematic diagram of three counting tubes H), H, and I2 with transfer circuits l3 and 14 between the second and third. Each counting tube includes a gas-tight envelope, generally indicated by a dashed line I5, a common anode l6, and a plurality of discharge fingers H. In the tubes shown in the figure, each has 30 discharge fingers, three fingers for each position designated by a digit from 0 to 9. Each tube contains three electrodes 20, 2|, and 22, indicated schematically by circular lines, and each electrode has nine discharge fingers alternately spaced and positioned symmetrically adjacent to the anode l6.

'Three independent discharge fingers l'|l, [1-2, and I 'l-3 are aligned with the other discharge fingers but are separately mounted and have their own lead-in conductors. Two of these independent fingers are in the nine digit position and one is in the zero digit position.

Independent discharge finger ll-l in the nine position is connected by its lead-in conductor to the primary winding 23 of a transformer, thence by conductor 24 to electrode 20, called to the first transfer electrode. Independent discharge finger "-2 is connected by its lead-in conductor to a second primary winding 25, thence by conductor 26 to electrode 2|, called the second transfer electrode. Independent discharge finger l'l--3-in the zero position is connected by its lead-in conductor I to a capacitor 21, thence to primary winding 20, and thence by conductor 29 to the third electrode To provide a direct current path between the finger 11-3 and electrode 22, a resistor 30 is connected between the two elements.

The primary source of pulse energy is derived from a driving circuit 3| which may be any one of the forms of drivers which have been used to generate pulses or cycle variations to operate a counter. The output of this circuit must be a three phase pulse or a series of three electrical pulses separated by short intervals of time. During the time when no pulses are being received'the Y to permit carry pulses between tubes.

are discharge is kept going in the counting tube by current flowing over conductor 82 to the master electrode 22. The are discharge occurs at the master discharge finger II to which it was last transferred by a pulsing actuation. Conductors a and 34 are connected between the driving circuit and the two transfer electrodes 2i and 22. A

battery 38 is connected between the anode II and the driving circuit 3! to provide the energy'for the arc discharge between pulses.

A zeroizing circuit is provided to reset the arc discharge to the zero position. and includes a switch A connected to the discharge finger. fl-l.-

a ballast resistor 3i, and a conductor I'Iwhich is connected to ground and the negative terminal of battery 35.

The second counting tube n has three-input conductors which connect transformer secondaries 4|. 4|, and 42 with the three electrodes of the second tube 2|; and 22'. The other terminals of the transformer windings are connected 2|, and 28'. The secondary windings 4., 4i',.

and 42' are connected in the same manner as the secondary windings of transformers It. A zeroizing switch A is connected to a resistor 30' and ground. The three switches A, A, and 'A" are generally made part of a single control unit so that all tubes may be zeroized at once under control of a single lever.

The third tube I2 has the same internal construction as the other two and has similar external connections except that, since there is no fourth tube to receive a carry, the three independent discharge fingers l1"-i, l|"2, and I1 3 are separately connectedto the three electrodes 20", 2|", and 22".

In addition to the zeroizing circuit, a stop circuit is provided which may be used to disable all input circuits without returning the arc discharge to zero. These circuits consist of a switch B connected to the master electrode 22, a large capacitor 46, and a common ground connection. The three switch arms B, B, and B" are generally made part of a single switching unit.

- When the counting tube system is first put into operation and the batteries 35 and "connected, the arc discharge in each tube will start at any one of the electrode fingers, the selection beingleft to chance or to some minute constructional variation. To set all the arcs at the zero position the switches B, B, and B" are first closed. Then the A switches are closed,-connecting independent discharge fingers |'l3, l|'3, and l1"3 to ground through resistors 36 which are substantially smaller than resistors 44 and 44'. This action reduces the potential of the fingers and thereby increases the potential difference between the fingers and the anode It to a value which locates the are discharge at those points. 7

The A switches are now opened to permit later arc movement and then the B switches are opened The are discharges will remain atthe zero positions because the potentialdrop in resistors 30, 41, and 48 cause a reduction in potential of all other fingers connected to the same electrode.

pulse to the-second transfer electrode and the When the counting operation starts, pulses received from the driving circuit 3| alter the voltage values on electrodes 20. ii, and 22 and cause a progressive displacement of the discharge around the anode periphery in a counterclockwise direction. A description of this process is contained in the above mentioned Patent No. 2,443,407.

To illustrate the action of'the transfer circuits let it be assumed that the discharge has been moved to position number 8 and occurs between fingers "-4 and the anode ll. Then when a counting pulse arrives, conductor 33 first transmits a negative voltage pulse which raises the potential difierence of the adjacent finger l'l-I and moves the discharge to that finger. Then conductor 34 transmits a similar negative voltage potential difference of finger i'l-i is raised to a value high enough to capture the discharge from the adjacent finger [1-5. Last, 9. negative voltage pulse is transmitted over conductor 32 and the discharge moves to finger i'll. This represents a count of one" and the operation has moved the discharge from the 8 position to the 9 position.- During this operation the transfer circuits werenot afiected because no current was forced through the primary windings.

If, now, another count of one is applied by the driving circuit 3|, successive negative pulses are sent over conductors 33, 34, and 32 in that order. The potential difference between independent finger l'I-I and the anode I6 is raised to a value where the arc discharge moves from finger "-1 to Il-l, thereby sending a current through primary winding 23 and inducing a pulse in the secondary winding 40. The successive negative pulses sent over conductors 34 and 32 produce similar actions, transferring the discharge to finger ll2 and then to ll3. During each of these transfers, current is sent through the corresponding transformer primary and a pulse is induced in the transformer secondary. The windings are arranged so that a negative pulse is transmitted by the secondary windlugs and applied to the electrodes 20', 21', and 22' and in that order. The three pulses increase the potential difference of adjacent discharge fingers, and in the manner described above, cause the arc discharge to move from the "0 position in the second tube l5 to the 1 position.

Before the above described carry action, the counting tubes indicated a count of 009; after the action, the indicated value is 010. Additional counting pulses received by the first order counting tube will advance the arc discharge around the tube in the same manner as before, the arc discharges in the second and third order tubes remaining at their positions of "1'. and 0, respectively, until carry pulses are received.

The carry action between the second and third order tubes is the same as the above described action between the first and second. The third order tube l2 delivers no carry pulses and for this reason the three independent discharge fingers i'|l, l'l"--2, and ll"--3 are connected directly to the three electrodes 20", 2|", and 22".

The resistor 48 must be inserted inseries withv finger E2 to insure the zeroizing action when switch A" is closed.

From the above description it will be evident that the invention will count electrical pulses by registering the values in arc discharge tubes, one tube for each denominational order. Carry pulses are transmitted from one order tube to the next higher order tube by a simple transfer circuit without the need of amplifying devices.

While there have been described and illustrated specific embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the field of the invention which should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A counting tube transfer circuit for transmitting a counting pulse from one counting tube to another counting tube comprising; a first order counting tube for registering received pulses from an outside source, including three electrodes, each with a plurality of discharge fingers, and three independent discharge fingers with separate leadin conductors; a second order counting tube for registering a carry pulse from the first order countin tube; and transfer circuits between each of the three independent discharge fingers of the first order counting tube and the three corresponding electrodes of the second order counting tube.

2. A counting tube transfer circuit for transmitting a counting pulse from one counting tube to another counting tube comprising; a first order 1 countin tube for registering received pulses from an outside source. a second order counting tube for registering carry pulses received from the first order tube; each of said counting tubes including three electrodes, each with a plurality of discharge fingers, and three independent discharge fingers with separate lead-in conductors; transfer circuits between each of the three independent discharge fingers of the first order three electrodes, each with a plurality of dis charge fingers, and three independent discharge fingers with separate lead-in conductors; transformer coupling circuits between each of the three independent discharge fingers of the first order counting tube and the three corresponding electrodes of the second order counting tube.

4. A counting tube transfer circuit for transmitting a counting pulse from one counting tube to another counting tube comprising; a first order countin tube for registering received pulses from an outside source, a second order counting tube for registering carry pulses received from the first order tube; each of said counting tubes including three electrodes, each with a plurality of discharge fingers, said fingers arranged in groups of three and each group designated by a digit, and three independent discharge fingers with separate lead-in conductors; transformer coupling circuits between each of the three independent discharge fingers of the first order counting tube and the three corresponding electrodes of the second order counting tube.

5. A counting tube transfer circuit for trans- 'mitting a counting pulse from one counting tube to another counting tube comprising; a first order counting tube for registering received pulses from an outside source, a second order counting tube for registering carry pulses received from the first order tube; each 91 said counting tubes including three electrodes, each with a plurality cl II discharge fingers, said fingers arranged in groups of three and each group designated by a digit, and three independent discharge fingers with separate lead-in conductors; transformer coupling circuits between each of the three independent discharge fingers of the first order counting tube and the three corresponding electrodes of the second order counting tube, and a resistor connected between one of said independent discharge fingers and the associated transformer winding for providing a high starting voltage for said discharge finger.

6. A counting tube transfer circuit for transmitting a counting pulse from one counting tube to another counting tube comprising; a first order counting tube for registering received pulses from an outside source, a second order counting tube for registering carry pulses received from the first order tube; each of said counting tubes including three electrodes, each with a plurality of discharge fingers, said fingers arranged in groups of three and each group designated by a digit, and three independent discharge fingers with separate lead-in conductors; transformer coupling circuits between each of the three independent discharge fingers of the first order counting tube and the three corresponding electrodes of the second order counting tube, and a zeroizing circuit for returning the discharge to the zerodesignated electrode, said circuit comprising a switch connected between said 'zero electrode and ground.

7. A counting tube transfer circuit for transmitting a counting pulse from one counting tube to another counting tube comprising; a first order counting tube for registering received pulses from an outside source, a second order counting tube for registering carry pulses received from the first order tube; each of said counting tubes including. three electrodes, each with a plurality of discharge fingers, said fingers arranged in groups of three and each group designated by a digit, and three independent discharge fingers with separate lead-in conductors; transformer coupling circuits between each of the three independent discharge fingers of the first order counting tube and the three corresponding electrodes of the second order counting tube, and a zeroizing circuit for returning the-discharge to the zero-designated electrode, said circuit comprising a switching circuit for impressing a voltage on said electrode which is substantially greater than other electrode voltages.

8. A counting tube transfer circuit for transmitting a counting pulse from one counting tube to another counting tube comprising; a first order counting tube for registering received pulses from an outside source, a second order counting tube for registering carry pulses received from the first order tube; each of said counting tubes including three electrodes, each with a plurality of discharge fingers, said fingers arranged in groups of three and each group designated by a digit, and three independent discharge fingers with separate lead-in conductors; transformer coupling circuits between each of the three independent discharge fingers of the first order counting tube and the three corresponding electrodes of the second order counting tube, and a switching circuit for disabling the transformer coupling circuit during a zeroizin action, said circuit comprising switching means for short circuitng the transformer coupling circuit.

HAROLD T. LYMAN, JR.

No references cited. 

